Update: Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart Has A Torn MCL, Out For The Season

Reports from earlier in the day suggested that Stewart’s knee injury was “serious,” so it’s really not all that surprising to hear that he is done for the season. The hit he took from Saints CB Keenan Lewis actually looked pretty.

Stewart will have to rehab his injured knee and hope to be back at full strength in 2014.

Stewart, 26, is in the second year of a huge six-year $37.811 million contract that includes $22.5 million guaranteed. He missed the first eight games of the season while he was dealing with injuries to both of his ankles.

According to Overthecap.com’s Salary Cap Calculator, the Panthers cannot release Stewart next offseason as it would come with $12.6 million cap hit. In fact, Carolina wouldn’t be able to get out of Stewart’s contract without seeing a net loss until 2015, so it’s safe to say he’ll be around for a few years.

Stewart put together back-to-back 16-yard runs and actually gave the Panthers’ ground game some life before exiting with a knee injury. Stewart will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.